Chapter Text
Tighnari hated traveling. The whole packing procedure. Leaving his bed for days. And talking to strangers for hours. If he had chosen right, Gandharva Ville would have been his forever home. The sweet calm wind beneath flowers and trees. The birds chirping at the rise of the sun and the buzzing of bugs in the quiet nights. Even the purifying of poisoned soil. The fighting of monsters that would endanger his people. He missed all of it. But he had another responsibility. One that was able to take him anywhere. Even places he would never have gone alone. Collei had been his priority since the day she arrived, the reason for everything he did. His child. Not the first person he had loved, but the one he chose to stay with. The one he chose every day.
And the reason Tighnari had to endure a one day train ride to Snezhnaya. Collei was only fifteen, a baby in his eyes. She couldn’t travel alone. Tighnari would never let her, anyway. Eleazar wasn’t as much of an issue, now that the consciousness of Greater Lord Rukkhadevata was completely cleansed. Still, Tighnari worried. Every second of the day. And even though he had taken upon himself the responsibility for her well being, he would never be at fault for keeping Collei static. For stopping her from discovering Teyvat. The first place Collei dreamt of meeting had been Mondstadt, so one year ago their traveling season had begun. And now she was dreaming bigger. So visiting the Korolevskiy Theatre in Snezhnograd had become her birthday wish. Tighnari couldn’t dismiss it. Not after visiting Natlan and Liyue the past six months. Even though that meant he would have to endure most of the trip alone.
Lumine had arranged the strangest meet up for Collei. The Harbingers, Columbina and Sandrone would take her to see Odette and Vodyanitsa at the theatre while Tighnari waited for her back at the hotel. It was definitely not something he would plan himself, but he trusted Lumine. And he honestly had no interest in going to the Opera or the Ballet. So the arrangement worked in both of their favours. Tighnari had planned meticulously what he would do with his free time. Which obviously meant studying the Snezhnayan flora.
“Open the window, I want to touch the snow”, Collei interrupted Tighnari’s thoughts by leaning over him. His tail retracted closer to his body, afraid he’d get hurt. Collei had a dreamy smile stamped on her lips, like a playful child, finally meeting the real world. It was what made all the traveling worth it.
“You’ll have plenty of time to do that when we get there. I don’t even think this window opens”, Tighnari rubbed a finger in Collei’s cheek, a mark from where she had been previously sleeping on his shoulder. Collei still yanked the handle, but the window didn’t budge. “I told you, love, just sit tight. We’ll be there in an hour. We just passed Sretomorozsk.”
Collei nodded, pouting softly as she went back into the seat. She had always been a good daughter, he thought. Since the first moment Cyno had brought her to him. Both of them, standing in front of his room, almost helpless. Collei was only seven at that time, but Tighnari knew they belonged together. The three of them. Now, it was only him and her, but they still belonged. And Tighnari would never leave Collei like Cyno had done. Going back to Sumeru City right after she was cured. To be the General Mahamatra nonetheless. Tighnari would never have left them like that.
“Thank you for coming with me all the way here”, she said, then hesitated. “I wanted to tell you something, actually…” Tighnari shook his head, asking her to go ahead, but Collei didn’t manage to gather up the words. “It’s about dad…”
Tighnari sighed. Cyno was still a sensitive topic between them. Three years had passed since he left, but Collei still cared deeply about the man and Tighnari knew they exchanged a great number of letters in those years. It wasn’t a no contact situation, but in between Collei’s trips and Tighnari’s work as Forest Watcher, they hadn’t had much time together. For Tighnari, it was a relief. He didn’t wish to keep seeing around the guy who broke his heart. But for Collei, it was a constant disappointment. Yet, she still called both of them her dads.
Cyno and Tighnari were never together per se. They both slept in the same tent and took care of Collei together. But they didn’t admit feelings to each other. Mostly because Cyno clearly did not have any for Tighnari. But partly because the moment never seemed right for Nari to say something. Collei wasn’t the same as now. She had always been a good kid, but with her Eleazar, she needed round-the-clock care. Which didn’t leave much room for the two adults to be alone. Now they just avoided each other every time Collei wished to visit Sumeru City.
“Next stop: Snezhnograd. The train will be leaving in twenty minutes. Please be in your seats, ticket in hand”, one of the cabin crew yelled in the corridor.
As the doors opened, Tighnari rushed to cover his ears from the wind, then proceeded to neatly button up Collei’s jacket over her hand-woven cardigan. She had let him, only after her bothered protests were ignored. Tighnari was a Valuka Shuna at last. Collei was his pup, should she be a human teenager or a baby fox. And he would always take care of her in the same nurturing way.
“I’m glad we’re having our adventures together. It’s nice, having something just ours”, Tighnari sighed, kissing Collei’s forehead gently. He meant it, even if he hated leaving Gandharva Ville, being with her made him feel younger and courageous. And having something with his daughter that warmed his heart, meant Cyno hadn’t taken all of it apart. “What did you want to talk about your dad?”
“U-uh. Nothing, Papa”, Collei smiled, her cheeks flushed, probably from the cold. “I was just wondering if you could buy me some stamps and postcards…”
“Of course, Collei”, Tighnari let out a calm sigh when Collei’s smile suddenly turned into something sad. He knew she missed him, but the best he could do at that moment was some close comfort. Tighnari held Collei’s hand gently with both of his and drew wobbly lines until she smiled again. It was almost common practice, this grounding technique turned soft caress. Collei always smiled and Tighnari felt grateful for having her in his life.
*
The Podvorye Restaurant was exponentially warmer than the train, which got Cyno finally sighing in relief as he reached the entrance balcony. Even though the cold didn’t bother him as much as the humidity of the Avidya Forest, feeling his toes again was very much appreciated. The second sigh that left his lungs wasn’t as much relief as it was disappointment. Dehya and Candace had already left him to pursue other pubventures, which meant he’d be alone for the first night.
It’s only three days, he thought. Cyno had to endure a simple weekend of Snezhnayan cold, his best friend's drunkery and a whole family issues avalanche. All in virtue of his most important person. His daughter, Collei. His pride and all his joy. She had sent a very detailed letter about her wishes of being together on her 15th birthday and even though Cyno wasn’t her full-time parent, he was always around when she asked him to. He was a good dad, his work took the most of him, however he was still present for Collei and the numerous letters kept score of how much he worried about her life.
He still missed it, though. Waking up in Gandharva Ville, working quietly in Tighnari’s room while Collei played with her dolls, having dinner together and hearing about their days. Sure, Cyno missed Collei like a lung, seeing her everyday, kissing the top of her messy hair. But he had to admit, he missed Tighnari the most. They hadn’t had a normal conversation in three years. Cyno missed everything he knew about him. His soft-spoken voice, his beautiful smile and the way he’d roll his eyes at Cyno’s every silly joke. Cyno wished he had memorized every single thing about the man before losing him. He knew it had been his fault. The fallout. But he had to go. He couldn’t take the heartbreak of not having Tighnari to himself. Collei didn’t need him all that much. What was he supposed to do? He had to go back. The Matra needed him.
“How can I help?” The receptionist smiled at him, but Cyno was too lost in his thoughts to reciprocate. “Do you have a reservation?”
“Hm”, he paused, trying to process the woman’s words. “Yes. My name is Cyno, my daughter Collei booked our room”, he fidgeted with his fingers while waiting for her to look in the notebooks. He wasn’t supposed to be that nervous. Collei had booked a double room for them. Tighnari was aware of it. For only three days they’d be together again, as a family. For Collei’s birthday. And then everything would go back as it was before.
“I will give you your key, and when the rest of your party arrives, they can come get theirs, okay? Feel free to enjoy the lunch here on the first floor, or ask for some room service”, she smiled again and this time he managed to smile back.
Cyno got barely ten steps in before Dehya and Candace jumped in front of him. Cup in hand and playful smiles. He didn’t judge them, though. It was rare for the three of them to get some time off like this. Away from home, without the judgement of coworkers. He was just glad they were there with him. In case Tighnari happened to play with his heart once again.
“Dehya is in love”, Candace sang before Dehya could open her mouth. She rolled her eyes in response, but Candace was just too excited to care. “Well, this isn’t news. But, the news is… Guess who we just found trotting around the restaurant?” And before Cyno could answer, Candace let out a low scream “Dunyarzad!”
Cyno rolled his eyes. He wasn’t nearly interested in Dehya’s situationship as he was in his probable soon to be death. Still, he had to hear half an hour worth of rants about how beautiful the maiden looked and how down Dehya was for her. In the corner of his eye, Cyno could see a tiny pot plant that suddenly reminded him of Collei. The way the leaves fell like her green hair. It was the same as the one they used to have at home. Cyno easily drifted off of the conversation. Back at the kitchen in Gandharva Ville, he was listening to Tighnari’s humming. He braided Collei’s hair so it wouldn’t get in her face while she ran around the room, playing hide and seek in the small tent.
“General Mahamatra to Teyvat?” Candace called, Cyno shook his head. Something wrapped all over his mistakes and deepened his gaze. “Hey,” she held his arm. “It’s going to be okay, Cyno. It’s just a weekend.”
“I know”, he let out another sigh, tired. He didn’t know how he was supposed to act around Tighnari. Was he the same person as three years ago? Would everything be weird now that they didn’t talk anymore? And most important, would Collei be okay seeing both of her fathers sharing the same roof again? How did they even get this way? And how could he get out? “I miss… her…”
I miss him, he thought. He could easily admit to himself now. Yet, saying out loud would only cause more pain. Candace laid a hand on his shoulder and kissed his temple. Dehya was distracted enough not to notice and easily followed as Candace lured her back to the bar, leaving Cyno once more alone with his thoughts. He waited another half hour for Collei to finally appear in his field of vision. She was as pretty as the last time Cyno had seen her. And she looked so excited, pulling Tighnari around and pointing every little thing her eyes could see. Cyno instinctively opened a smile, his legs pulling him in their direction before he could notice.
*
Collei was a liar and a scammer. Well, as much as a child with good intentions could be. She had blatantly lied to her fathers by asking for that birthday trip. She had no dream of watching the Opera or the Ballet, even though Lumine had been clear in her letters about how beautiful the place was. The thing she really wanted was to get her two dads together for her birthday in a place they couldn’t immediately run to their separate lives. In a place they would have to talk things out. That was her dream.
Because while they were stuck in the mess they’d made, she was stuck with the memories of what had been. The way Cyno would hug her after a nightmare and the way Tighnari would bring her tiny cactuses from his trips to the desert. Everything that had happened lived in a secret place inside her, kept safe by fondness. And she remembered everything. From Tighnari pretending not to laugh at Cyno’s jokes. To Cyno pretending not to blush every time Tighnari would compliment his work with Collei’s hair. Most of all, she remembered having two dads. Always around her. And always there when they needed each other. Collei could not have paid such a mind to them as she had, but it was impossible. They saved her. And she had broken them.
So she had to fix them. She had to make sure things were back as before. So she lied. And now, looking at the eyes of both her dads, she had come clean. She had to be the real adult there and deal with the consequence of her own actions. Or she could play dumb and worsen her situation even more... No, she had to come clean, otherwise the rest of the plan wouldn’t work. And the first step, of course, was planning a romantic weekend for them. Lumine had made sure it would all work out in her favour.
“Papa, please don’t be mad, I swear I meant to tell you before we came, but if you knew, you’d probably want to stay home and I really wanted to spend my birthday with the both of you”, Collei ranted as Cyno walked in their direction. Tighnari’s confused expression dissipated as he saw the man coming up to them. Collei closed her eyes, waiting for her dad to let out a frustrated sigh, but instead the sound came from Cyno’s chest.
“Come on, Collei. I would think you’re way too grown to ambush your dad like that”, he frowned, holding the bridge of his nose. Collei tried not to smile. Just from a simple look Cyno was able to read the situation. Maybe this plan was already working better than she thought. She opened her mouth to apologize, but Cyno was quick to read her “Yeah, you’re sorry, alright. And I’m dad.”
Collei pressed her lips tight, trying to pretend she wasn’t there so they could have a moment together. Tighnari stared at Cyno for a minute and sighed. Collei knew what he was thinking. She had won. There was nothing he could do. Tighnari reached for his face, taking the hair out of his forehead and sighed. Or maybe she had lost and nothing she could ever do would fix them. After all, he hadn’t even laughed at Cyno’s unfunny dad joke. Collei let out the breath she was holding and muttered an apology to her dad. Tighnari’s ear twitched at her voice but he still wouldn’t look at her. Yeah, this had definitely been a mistake.